The Lacrosse Player Next Door

JASMINE

The ringing of the school bell cut through my thoughts, and that's when I realized how long I had been buried in one of my storybooks.

I have always been invested in storybooks because they take me out of the real world into a fantasy world where all my imagination comes true.

I've always been the kind of girl who hides her face from her classmates and never participates in any activities that draw students' attention to her.

Some students walked out of the library, holding hands with their friends, whispering to one another while admiring Jack, who was peacefully sleeping.

My eyes went to him, and there he was, sleeping like he had nothing to worry about.

Jack is the most popular boy at Wilford High School. He is also the face of the school, so he always appears in the school magazines, which adds to his popularity.

Every girl in school wanted him, and that made me the least of the girls he would ever notice because I was always too shy to be in crowded places.

My eyes didn't leave his handsome face as I watched him sleep. His eyelashes were long, making it seem like he had installed them. He was maddeningly attractive even with his eyes closed.

I swallowed hard as I stared at him. I didn't need to say it out loud before anyone would notice I had a huge crush on him.

It all began last year, in 10th grade, when I needed a change of school... Jack was the one who showed me to the principal's office, and that smile of his instantly caught my attention, and it felt like my heart was pierced by Cupid's arrow.

But sadly, after that day, I couldn't even dare to approach him because he was the most popular boy in school, with numerous fans and crushes, with whom I couldn't compare myself.

He is in his 12th grade and his final year in high school, which makes it hard for us to talk. He doesn't even know I exist, and I wouldn't dare to approach him, so all I did was crush on him from afar.

“Jack!” Xander, his friend, called him loudly as he rushed into the library.

Jack slowly opened his eyes, stretching his body from the long sleep he had just had. His eyes almost met with mine, but I quickly looked away, hiding my face with the book in my hand.

“Everyone is waiting for you at the school field. The girls are excited to watch you play,” Xavier said excitedly.

He wasn't just his best friend, but also his fanboy. They were both seniors.

“Really? No wonder I didn't see any of the girls lurking around me,” he chuckled, his little laughter sending shivers down my spine.

“Then let's go! I'm sure you will win over Colton,” Xavier giggled.

Jack got up to his feet, and I could feel his eyes on me, but I was too shy to take the book away from my face.

“What are you looking at, Jack? Let's go,” Xavier pressured.

“Who is she?” he asked, and I tightened my grip on the book as my heart thundered.

“You don't know her, so how should I? Let's go, Jack, the girls are waiting,” he said and dragged Jack out of the class.

When I felt the quietness of the library, I slowly brought the book down from my head and heaved out a sigh. How would he even notice me when I have chosen to hide myself from him with every chance I get?

Looking around the library, I was the only one in it. Everyone had left the library after the school bell rang.

Today happened to be the day Jack participated in lacrosse. Every girl in school avoided lurking around him so he'd have the energy to play, but after the game was over, they all swarmed around him like bees looking for honey.

A quiet place like this was always my comfort zone, so I decided to focus on my storybook, but then I was distracted by my best friend, Amy.

“What the heck are you doing here?” she asked, approaching me.

“Where should I be?” I replied with a question.

“At the school field, obviously,” she answered with a demonstration.

“And do what exactly?” I muttered.

“You don't expect me to answer that, right?” she asked, and I only stared at her.

“Your crush will be on the field, shouldn't you be there to watch him?”

“Not like he would notice me,” I murmured.

“And how would he notice you when you have decided to be a needle hiding in sand, huh?” she raised her eyebrows.

My life in school would have been boring if not for Amy. She was vibrant, and we became friends after we participated in a project together.

She's gay, but she is the best gift Wilford High School has given to me.

“This won't do. We are going to the field together,” she said, taking my hand.

“I don't want to,” I frowned.

“You will have to. It's time you buckle up and make Jack notice you. You have had a crush on this boy for a year now, always imagining a happily ever after with him, but how can that work if you keep hiding?” she asked, her hands on her waist.

She mostly wears boyish outfits, and sporadically, her code of dressing always makes people think she is a boy, and she has really short hair. She chose to keep it that way.

“I can't show my face to Jack, Amy. I'm sure I will stop having a crush on him after he goes to college.”

“I've heard that line so many times. Jack is in his final year in high school, are you just going to let him walk away without letting him know you exist? You have been into this guy. It's time you show your face to him... at least once,” she advised.

I shook my head in disagreement and said, “I am just going to sit here and read my storybook,” I smiled at her, but Amy yanked me up from the chair.

“Enough with the hiding, after the game is over, you should say hi to Jack,” she said and pulled me out of the class before I could stop her.

We both went to the school field, and the whole school was already there to watch Jack perform. The cheerleaders were on the left side of the field getting ready to cheer for Jack.

My eyes searched for him, and there he was, getting ready for the game. A smile slipped in as I watched him. He looked sexy in the lacrosse gear he was wearing.

All the girls were already cheering for him, his picture banner lifted above their heads.

The whistle was blown by the coach, and the game began. Everyone, including Amy, was screaming his name. The cheerleaders also cheered for him too.

I was the only one who was quiet because I was just lost in admiration for the way he played—he was a temptation because I could feel the wetness between my legs even when he wasn't touching me.

“We love you, Jack Harrison!” the crowd chorused, and Amy was a part of it. She was a massive fan of Jack, but she likes girls.

The game continued, and as always, Jack won over Colton. He angrily left the field after glaring at Jack. He was Jack's ultimate rival in school, but Jack didn't give a damn about him.

Girls flocked around Jack, complimenting him on how good he was, while he smiled at them. I turned to leave, but Amy held me.

“Where are you going?” she asked.

“Back to class.”

“You should talk to him.”

“There's no way I am doing that,” I turned to leave, but she held me.

“You’re talking to him. I’m not letting you waste this chance,” Amy insisted, pulling out a pack of candies from her backpack as if she had already made up her mind for me. “He loves candies, so give it to him.”

I tried to resist, but Amy shot me a glare with her eyes, so I reluctantly took the pack of candies from her.

The girls were no longer flocking around him, and I presumed maybe it was a chance fate had given me.

As I made to call him, Madelyn beat me to it.

“Jack!” she said, and he turned to look at her.

Madelyn was the head of the cheerleading team and also very popular for her boobs and hourglass body.

“You did great,” she smiled, flirting her manicured nails around his chest.

“Thanks, Maddie,” he replied with a smile of his own, and instantly, they began to kiss, his hand pressing her butt.

My heart shattered and cracked into a million pieces.

Did I forget to mention that Jack is a big-time playboy?